Drain cleaner



Feb- 6, 1940- A. A. scHUBRlNG 2,188,960

DRAIN CLEANER Filed June 2, 1938 NEY BY .gj

Patented Feb.. 6, 1940 UNITED STATESQPATENTOFFICE Albert A. Schubring, Sunnyside,` N. Y.

Application June 2, 1938, Serial No. 211,331

stoppage in drain pipes or the like. y l

One ofthe main objects of the invention is to provide simple, hand-operated apparatus of the above type kwhich is capable of relieving virtually described, as a non-limiting example, in connec-` tion with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance'with the invention, showing the same in use in a wash basin;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section of portion of the apparatus;v and; y v

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing a modication of the invention.

The main part of the apparatus of the invention comprises a substantially'spherical body 6 of resilient material, which may conveniently be composed of a pair ofrubber force cups l and 8 as shown in Fig. 2, and which are cemented or otherwise securely joined together at 9. Joint 9 is strengthened on the outside by a suitable watertight binding Il). The Whole construction is-reinforced in the inside by a light ymetal memberv such as V-pulley II of aluminum orsimilarmaterial, to which force cups 1 and 8 arecemented at I2.

Handle end I3 `of force cup-'I is provided with a suitable tapped tting I4, shown as being held in place by washers I5. Handle end I6 of force cup 8 is preferably tapered as shown, and is interiorly provided with a tapped tting I1.

Handle means for the apparatus are provided,

' composed of rigid pipe member I8, threaded at I9 for attachment to tting I4, and preferably bent at right angles to `form section 20 to facilitate handling in use. Pipe I8 is preferably 'provided with an insulating sheathing 2|. Hose-22 is secured to pipe I8 and is provided `at its other end the main (Cl. 4-256) I lis turned on until the apparatus and that portion n u of the drain between it andthe stoppage are full of water. Then with thevvater still running, the device is given one or more rapid pumping strokes by means of sudden pressure on handle 28, causing ball 6 to collapse as shown in Fig. vl. Since there is an incompressible column of water between thev device and the stoppage, the effect is to transmit the strokes given to the device directly to the point of the stoppage. The shape of force cup 8 tends to prevent any loss of pressure at the jointure between it and the drain, and in order to prevent any sidewise displacement, there is provided a rigid rod member 2l, suitably secured to :fitting Il and .adapted to pass up into and telescope with pipe I8 when the ball is collapsed.

. When the drain to be cleared has a screenv or `other formation atA its mouth which may prevent the insertion of taper I6, themodification of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is used. This niodication includes an additional forcecup 28 suitably secured to ball Iiby a threaded tting 29 screwed into iitting I'I. Force cup 28 is placed over the entrance to thescreened drain, and then the apparatus is operated as described'above, p

It will be seen ythat this invention provides simple and thoroughly effective apparatus for relievv ing virtually any degree of stoppage in a drain or pipe. It will be seen also that the invention teaches the accomplishment ofthe above results rials. Thus,within the scope of the invention, ball 6 may obviously be made of one piece, but the use of the `force cups is simpler and obviates the necessity of a specially Vmolded ball.

. .30' by means of simple and` readily available mate- Since certain changes in carrying out the above process, and certain modifications in the article which embody the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting 1 sense. f

It is yalso to.v be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specic features of the invention herein described, land allv statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is: e e f 1. A drain cleaner comprising in combination, a substantially spherical hollow body of resilient material, said body being providedwith a hollow handle opening into said body and fitted for attachment to a source of running water, said body being adapted at a point opposite said handle for insertion into a drain pipe and provided with an aperture at said point; and reinforcing means within said body for preventing sidewise displacement of a portion thereof, said reinforcing means being adapted to telescope with said handle when said body is collapsed or pulsated.

2. A drain cleaner comprising in combination, a substantially spherical hollow body of resilient material, said body being provided witha hollow handle opening into said'sphere and fitted for attachment to a source of running water, said body being adapted at a point opposite said handle for insertion into a drain pipe andv providedl with an aperture at said point; and a rigid member mounted in said aperture and adapted to pass into said handle member when said body is collapsed or pulsated, thus preventing sidewise displacement thereof. l

3. Apparatus for relieving stoppage in drains, comprising in combination a hollow rubber ball adapted to have a portion thereof inserted in a drain and provided at such portion with an aperture, said ball having a second aperture in 'its circumference opposite said first aperture; a rigid hollow handle member securedin said secondy aperture and fitted for attachment to a source of running water; and reinforcing means Within said ball for preventing sidewise displacement of a portion thereof during operation.

4. Apparatus for relieving stoppage in drains, comprising in combination a hollow rubber ball adapted to have a portion thereof inserted in a drain and provided at such portion with an aperture, said ball having a second aperture in its circumference opposite said rst aperture; a rigid hollow handle member secured in said second aperture and tted for attachment to a sourcey of running water; and rigid reinforcing means mounted in said ball and adapted to pass into said handle member when said ball is collapsed, thus preventing sidewise, displacement thereof.

5. Apparatus for relieving stoppage in drains,

comprising in' combination a hollow rubber ball adapted to havel a portion thereof inserted in a drain kand provided at such portion with an aperture, said ball having a second aperture in its circumference opposite said first aperture; aforce cup provided with an axial aperture coaxially joined to said ball at said second aperture; `a rigid hollowhandle member secured in said second aperture and tted for attachment to a source of running water;` and telescoping reinforcing means within said ball for vpreventing sidewise displacement of a portion thereof during operation.

6. Apparatus vfor relieving stoppagein drains, comprising in combinatioma pair of rubber force within said body for preventingvsidewise displacey each of said cups being provided ywith an l'airial cups secured together at their rims, each of said cups being provided with' an `axial aperture; a hollow handle member secured in one, of said" apertures, fitted for attachment to asource of`v yrunning Water and adapted to impart a pumping 5 action to said apparatusj. and telescoping -rein-v forcing means within `said body f or'preventingV sidewise displacement thereof. Y '7. Apparatus for relieving ystoppage in drains;vr fl' comprising in combination, a pair ofrubber force cups secured together at `their rims, each of said cups being provided with Van axial aperture;l a hollow handle member securedi in rone of'said apertures, fitted for attachment to a'source of* running Water and adapted 'to imparta pumping Alli` action to said apparatus; anda rigid` member: mounted in the other of said apertures and'yi adapted to pass into said handle member whenl said apparatus is in operationand prevent sidey wise displacement thereof. y 81 Apparatus for` relieving' .stoppage inidrainls, comprising in combination, a:'pairkofffrubber"forc cups securedtogether at theirfrimsffin a' water tight joint; rim means for reinforcing said ii44 u each `of said cups being provided' with an,` aperture; a hollow handle 'member securediny A, of said apertures, fitted for attachment tofasourc of running water and adapted to imparta ing actiony to said apparatus; and reinforcingmeans within said vbody for preventing sidewis'ek displacement thereof. 9. Apparatus for.v relieving stoppagein drains,

comprising in combination, a pairfof rubberj force".f` cups secured together at their' rims, each of cups being provided withy an VVaxial aperture, laA hollow handle member secured'in'v one ofjsai' apertures, `fitted for attachment to a 'source' running water and adapted toinipart a pumping action to .said apparatus; reinforcing `means ment thereof; and a third force'cupfprovidedfwith an axial aperture' coaxially 'joined' thereby to' the other ofsaid first named'apertures, i j 10. Apparatus for relievingstoppagein,drainl comprising in combination, afpai'rof rubbe'rfd e-V cups securedjtogether at their-rimsinfaWatertight joint; rim means for .reinforcing ljoint;

aperture; a hollow'handlle member secured in of said apertures, fitted for attachmenttc-:a source ofrunning water and adaptedto 'ii'rip'a'nt"'r a pumping action to saidfapparatus; Are'infor'cing I meanswithin said bodyfor preventing -sidewit l f displacement thereof; and a'third fcrcecup pro` j vided with an axial aperture coaxially"` joinedl i5 thereby to the other of said first named apertures; 

